The Courtauld Gallery’s ambitious expansion plans have been given a major £30 million boost, thanks to a donation from the Reuben Foundation — the charitable arm of billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben.
Courtauld Gallery – Somerset House
Following the Gallery’s major redevelopment and reopening in 2021, the Courtauld has turned its focus to creating a new campus nearby on the Strand. Together, the two interlinked projects have now attracted £115 million in funding over the past decade.
This latest gift, the largest in the institution’s history, will also see the Reuben Foundation collaborating with the Courtauld on exhibitions and displays, including loans from the Reuben family’s extensive private art collection.
The new Strand campus is scheduled to open in 2029, just in time for the Courtauld’s centenary celebrations in 2032.
Commenting on the gift, Lisa Reuben, Trustee of the Reuben Foundation, said: “We are thrilled by the opportunity to build on the Courtauld’s remarkable history and to support the realisation of its ambitious development. Recognised internationally as the pre-eminent centre for the study of art history, art conservation and curatorial studies, the Courtauld exemplifies the philanthropist Samuel Courtauld’s vision of ‘art for all.’ Its enduring commitment to excellence – reflected in the generations of leaders in the art world it has produced – aligns seamlessly with the Reuben Foundation’s values and ethos and furthers our commitment to education and culture.”
